Inspiration for Leaders

Wednesday, October 29, 2014

A day full of workshops, industry spotlights and breakout
sessions provided the region’s technology leaders, including several from the
LHRIC, with much to think about Oct. 24 during the annual Tech Forum
convention.

Eric Sheninger delivers keynote speech at Tech Forum 2014

It was Eric Sheninger’s keynote presentation “Digital
Leadership: Changing Paradigms for Changing Times” that set the tone for the
day.

While he served as principal, Sheninger said he didn’t
embrace the kind of leadership traits he now espouses. Spending countless hours
eliminating electronic devices from children was just part of his job.

“I was the one who made sure the environment was sterilized,”
he recalled. “I blocked and banned everything, maintaining the status quo.
Essentially, I was in control.”

But all of that changed when Sheninger realized the merits
of integrating digital tools as a way to engage learners.

Despite the lack of funds and the building’s aging
infrastructure, Sheninger said the high school achieved “impressive results”
within five years of embracing the new, more modern channels of communication.
It helped engage families, inspire staff growth and bring new relevance to the
classroom for both teachers and students, he explained.

“We got rid of all the excuses and focused on the
solutions,” he said. “We made a conscious effort to create a school that worked
well for kids.”

Sheninger said he did not “preach Common Core” to his staff,
but instead focused on a particular skill set that would set his students apart
from their peers.

Today, New Milford High School is a “Makerspace” of sorts
where students work in the high school library with Lego pieces, motherboards
and a 3D printer.Sheninger refers to it
as a “culture that’s different.”

Under his leadership, the school created learning academies
that are open to any student regardless of GPA as well as teacher incentives,
part of the school’s digital badge platform for those who embrace the new
technologies.

Sheninger, the creator of the Pillars of Leadership, a
framework for driving sustainable change in schools, suggested that educators interested
in change should form their own personal learning networks.

“Connecting myself to the smart people and the doers has
pushed me to become a better leader, educator and a better person,” he said.

Sheninger suggested to his audience that they lead by
example. “Make the conscious decision to share your vision, to have
conversations with other educators, to be transparent, support change and model
the expectations that you have for others,” he said.

The day’s other events included presentations on Google Apps
for Education; coding, making and learning; creating a positive digital
footprint and telling stories with help from digital media, among others.